Display device



May 12, 1970 Filed Jan. 19, 1968 J.LANE

DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jim.

ATTORNEYSQ May 12, 1970 J. LANE 3,510,974

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN LANEBY wqflsgowmnmsmz qu'nuv ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,510,974 DISPLAY DEVICE John Lane, Kirtland,Ohio, assignor to Keeler & Dunkel, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Filed Jan. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,166 Int. Cl. G09f 1/00 U.S.Cl. 40-1241 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-supportingdisplay device formed from a sheet of bendable material. The displayincludes a display surface and a frame-like structure surrounding thesurface. The frame-like structure is formed by folding the sheet and thefolded frame-forming material is stressed to maintain the deviceassembled and supported without the use of fastening devices or easels.

A blank from which the device is constructed is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present inventionrelates to displays and more particularly relates to self supportingdisplays formed of sheet-like material.

The prior art A great variety of products are displayed or advertised bymeans of display devices which may be constructed of paper or similarfoldable material. These devices are commonly positioned on counters orshelves or are suitably suspended from overhead supports. In manyinstances such displays are furnished to a retailer by the manufacturerof goods to be advertised and are shipped in an unassembled form. Thusthe recipient has the task of assembling the display device. Certainpreviously known displays of the self-supporting'type have includedtongue and slot constructions or separate fasteners, for maintaining thedisplay device in an assembled condition after being properly folded. Inmany instances the assembly of such devices required folding theunassembled device at a number of locations and locking the device inits assembled form by the aforementioned tongue and slot construction,or fasteners. Frequently the devices were improperly assembled, or thematerial from which the display was constructedwas torn, or both, duringassembly of the devices. This caused a loss of effectiveness of thedisplay either by unsightly damage or because the display was incapableof supporting itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a new andimproved display of the self supporting type is provided which is simpleand construction, assembled quickly and easily without the necessity ofmaking complicated folds invthe material of the display, and which isdevoid of fasteners or special constructions such as tongue and slotconnections, or the like.

The. present invention provides a display which is formed from a sheetofbendable material. This new de vice is folded to produce a displayhaving'a display surface and a frame-like structure surrounding thedisplay surface. The frame-like structure is formed byv folding thesheet material so that the frame is maintained assembled about thedisplay surface without the use of fas teners or structural connectionsformed by the sheet material. This is accomplished by resilientlyflexing the material forming each side of the frame during assembly andutilizing the resilient force in each frame side to react 3,510,974Patented May 12, 1970 ice against and balance the resilient forces inadjacent frame sides. Thus the frame sides are maintained in theirflexed, assembled, positions.

The new display device is formed from -a sheet which includes a sheetportion having a plurality of peripheral sides defining a polygonalshape. A second sheet portion forming a display bearing surface islocated within the first sheet portion and has a plurality of bend linesdefining a polygonal shape. This second polygon has the same number ofsides as the first mentioned polygon but the polygonal sides of thedisplay bearing surface have greater lineal lengths than thecorresponding sides of the first mentioned polygon. The material betweencorresponding sides of the golygons is bent away fro-m the displaybearing surface and resiliently bows or flexes intermediate junctures ofthe sides of the first mentioned polygonal sheet portion to defineframe-like panels. The sheet further includes tab portions disposedalong the sides of the first mentioned polygon. The tabs are folded backupon the frame-like panels and bowed intermediate ends thereof tomaintain the frame-like panels in their resiliently bowed conditions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved display comprised of a foldable sheet of material having apolygonal display bearing surface and frame-like structure surroundingthe display bearing surface including frame forming sheet portions bentforwardly from the display surface and tab portions bent backwardly uponthe frame forming sheet portions and extending beyond the displaybearing surface, and wherein the frame forming sheet portions and tabsare resiliently bowed intermediate their ends to define the frame-likestructure with adjacent ends of tabs engaged to maintain the tabs andframe forming portions in the bowed condition.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved blank article of sheet-like material from which a selfsupporting display is constructed wherein a sheet of material isprovided with a first series of bend lines defining a polygonal displaybearing surface, a second series of bend lines defining a second polygonsurrounding the display bearing surface and having the same number ofsides as the first mentioned polygon and a tab portion extending fromeach of the sides of the second mentioned polygon and which article isfoldable along the bend lines to produce a self supporting displaydevoid of fasteners or other interlock structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed descriptionthereof made with reference to the accompaning drawings which form apart of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS;

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a display embodying the presentinvention; I

FIG. 2 is an elevational viewof a blank which the display of FIG. 1 isconstructed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the display ofFIG. 1 taken approximately at the line article from FIG. 9 is anelevational view of a blank sheet from which the display of FIG. 6 isconstructed; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a blank sheet of material from which amodified display, similar to the display of FIG. 1 is constructed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 to 5 the display designated generally as is constructed of afoldable sheet of material which is preferably paper or a paper-likesubstance such as that which is commonly known as posterboard, andincludes a display bearing surface 11, and a frame-like structure 12surrounding the surface 11 providing picture frame-like panels on sidesof the surface 11 as well as for supporting the display 10 as describedin greater detail presently. The display surface 11 is a four sidedpolygon having its polygonal sides defined by bend lines 14-17 the endsof which bend lines intersect with adjacent bend lines to providejunctures or corners 20-23. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the bendlines 14-17 is composed of straight line segments 24, 25 adjacent endsof each bend line and which merge smoothly into a generally circularlycurved line segment 26 medially of the ends of each bend line.

The display surface 11-is thus a polygonal shape having non-linear sidesand corners 20-23 which are formed by acute angles between intersectingbend lines. The display bearing surface 11 as illustrat d in FIG. 1bears a printed image of a block letter D however, it is apparent thatany printed image may be placed on a surface 11 and further thatphysical items may be suitably connected to the surface 11.

The frame-like structure 12 is defined in part by sheet portions 30-33which are folded forwardly of the dis play surface 11 so that theframe-like structure 12 may be said to have an inner periphery definedby the bend lines 14-17. The sheet portions 30-33 are folded alongstraight fold lines 34-37, respectively, with the fold line of each ofthe sheet portions 30-33 intersecting the fold line of an adjacent sheetportion at the junctures or corners 20-23 of the display surface 11 sothat frame forming sheet portions or panels 40-43 are defined betweeneach of the bend lines 14-17 and a corresponding one of the fold lines34-37 intermediate the corners 20-23. The fold lines 34- 37 define acontinuous polygonal periphery about the surface 11 and the frameforming sheet portions 40-43.

The sheet portions 30-33 additionally include generally rectangular tabs44-47 respectively (which are illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1) andwhich tabs include a side formed by its respective one of the fold lines34-37 and with each of the tabs 44-47 extending continuously betweenadjacent corners or junctures 20-23 of the display.

The display 10 is assembled to a self supporting condition by foldingthe tab portions 44-47 along the fold lines 34-37 rearwardly of thedisplay surface 11. While the tab portions are maintained in theirfolded positions, the frame forming sheet portions 40-43 are bentforwardly of the display surface along the bend lines 14-17 whichresults in the frame-like structure 12 snapping into the configurationshown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and being self supported in the illustratedconfiguration as is described in more detail presently.

The fold lines 34-37 have a lesser lineal length than the bend lines14-17 so that when the frame forming sheet portions 40-43 are bentforwardly of the display surface 11 (see FIG. 1) such frame formingsheet portions are resiliently bowed intermediate the morners 20- 23 ofthe display. When the display 10 is in its assembled conditionillustrated in FIG. 1 the frame-like structure 12 is defined by a foursided polygon with each side defined by a gently curving line formed bythe fold lines 34-37.

The bend lines 14-17 and fold lines 34-37 may be formed in any suitablemanner but in the preferred embodiment the lines are provided by scoringor cutting the surface of the blank sheet. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the

4. blank sheet is scored on the reverse side of the display surface toform the lines 14-17 and permit bending of the frame forming sheetportions forwardly from the display surface. The score lines are relativly shallow so that the sheet material is not substantially weakened bythe scoring but may be readily bent.

The fold lines 34-37 are defined by scoring the front or forward surfaceof the blank sheet so as to permit folding of the tab portionsbackwardly of the frame forming sheet portions without excessivelyweakening the sheet material.

Since bowing of the frame forming sheet portions of panels 40-43 isresilient, it will be appreciated that each frame forming sheet portionresists the aforementioned bowing and tends to assume its relaxed ororiginal position in the plane of the display surface 11. The tabportions 44-47 are effective to provide forces which resist the tendencyof the frame forming sheet portions 40-43 to return to their relaxedpositions and additionally provide a support for maintaining the display10 in a self standing position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 all of thetab portions 44-47 are identical and accordingly the construction andoperation of only the tab 45 in its relation to the tabs 44, 46 isdescribed in detail. As shown in FIG. 2 the tab 45 is rectangular inshape having one long side formed by the fold line 35 extending from thecorner 20 to the corner 21, an opposite free edge or side 50 which isthe same length as the fold line 35, and end edges 51, 52 extending atright angles from the fold line 35 at the corners 20, 21 respectively.The tab 44 is formed by the same manner as the tab 45 and includes along side formed by the fold line 34, an opposite free side or edge 53of the same length as the fold line 34, and end edges 54, 55 whichextend at right angles to the fold line 34 from the corners 20, 23. Thetab 46 includes a free side 60 of the same length as the fold line 36and end edges 61, 62 extending at right angles from the fold line 36 atthe corners 21, 22.

When the tabs 44-46 are bent backwardly upon the frame forming sheetportions 40-42, and the sheet portions 40-42 are bowed as described,each of the tabs is resiliently bowed intermediate its end edges withthe maximum deflection of the tab portion occurring medially of the endedges, as best seen in FIG. 5.

When the tab portions are bowed, adjacent end edges of adjacent ones ofthe tabs extend rearwardly from the corner of the display 10 at whichthey are connected and are urged into engagement. Thus, as seen in FIG.4 when the tab 45 is bent backwardly along the frame forming sheetportion 41 and bowed, the end edge 52 thereof engages the end edge 61 ofthe tab 46, while the end edge 51 of the tab 45 engages the end edges 54of the tab 44. The tabs 45, 46 are engaged over areas 65, 66 lllustratedby the broken lines in FIG. 2 while the tabs 45, 44 are engaged overareas :67, '70 of FIG. 2. Since all of the tabs 44-47 are folded backand bowed, the force of engagement between adjacent end edges of thetabs produces reaction forces throughout the areas adjacent the endedges of the tabs. The reaction forces are exerted generally normally totab portions adjacent the end edges thereof and are sufliciently largeto maintain the tabs in their bowed conditions.

It is to be appreciated that the sheet material is of such characterthat the coeflicient of friction between the engaged end edges of thetabs is sufficiently large to prevent sliding of the edges relative toeach other. Since the tabs 44-47 are folded back upon the frame formingsheet portions 40-43 the tabs and frame forming sheet portions aremaintained in their bowed conditions by the aforementioned reactionforces and the display 10 is self retained in its configurationillustrated in FIG. 1.

When the display 10 is assembled the corners 20-23 are all disposedsubstantially in the plane X (see FIG. 5) and the engaged end edges ofadjacent tab portions extend from the plane X at an angle which isslightly greater than 90. Therefore when the display is placed upon ahorizontal surface the display bearing surface is dis posed generally ina plane parallel to the plane X and faces slightly upwardly with thedisplay 10 being supported solely by engaged end edges of the particulartabs which form the base and sides of the display 10. In FIG. 1 the endedges of the tab 47 and the end edges 55, 62 of the tabs 44, 46,respectively, provide the sole support for the display 10.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate a modified display 100 embodying the presentinvention including a display bearing surface 101 and frame structure102 disposed about the display bearing surface. The display bearingsurface 101 is a triangularly shaped polygon having circularly curvedsides 103-105 which are defined by bend lines formed in the sheet ofmaterial and which intersect at points 110-112 forming apexes of thetriangular polygon.

The frame structure 102 includes frame forming sheet portions or panels115-117 and tab portions 120-122 connected to the frame forming portions115-117, respectively, along fold lines 123-125. The fold lines 123-125define sides of a triangular polygon surrounding the display bearingsurface 101 and frame forming sheet portions 115-117 and which foldlines intersect to define corners 126-128 of the second mentionedtriangular polygon. The corners 110-112 of the display bearing surface101 and the corners 126-128 of the frame-like structure 102 areconnected by bend lines 130-132 extending between corresponding ones ofthe corners 110-112; 126-128, respectively. The bend lines and foldlines referred to are defined by scoring or creasing the sheet materialas described previously relative to FIGS. 1-5.

The tabs 120-122 are rectangular in configuration each having a longside formed by the fold lines 123-125, respectively, and having endedges extending transversely of the fold lines 123-125 from the corners126-128 of the frame-like structure. Since all the tab portions 120-122are identical in construction and function only the tab portion 121 isdescribed in its relation to the tab portions 120, 122.

The tab portion 121 includes the end edges 135, 136 which cooperate withthe end edge 137 of the tab portion 120 and an end edge 140 of the tabportion 122, respectively. When the display 100 is assembled, the frameforming sheet portions or panels 115-117 of the display 100 are bentforwardly along the lines 103-105 and the tab portions 120-122 arefolded back upon the rearwardly facing surfaces of the frame formingsheet portions 115-117 so that the frame forming sheet portions are eachresiliently bowed intermediate the corners 126-128 of the display andwith the tab portion associated with each of the frame forming portionsbeing similarly bowed.

The end edges of the adjacent tab portions are urged into engagement tomaintain the tab portions and the associated frame forming portions ofthe frame-like structure 102 in the resiliently bowed condition. The endedges 135, 137 of the tab portions 121, 120, respectively, are engagedover generally triangular areas designated 142, 143 in FIG. 6, adjacentthe end edges 135, 137 when the display 100 is assembled. The end edges136, 140 of the tabs 121, 122 are similarly engaged over the generallytriangular areas designated 144, 145 of the FIG. 9.

The end edges of each of the tab portions are longer than the maximumdistance between the fold line defining the long side of the tab and thebend line forming an adjacent or corresponding side of the displaybearing sur- 'face 101 so that when the tabs 120-122 are folded backwardly and bowed as described, each tab extends for a substantialdistance beyond the display bearing surface 101. Due to the bowing ofthe tab portions intermediate the end edges thereof the adjacent endedges of the tabs are engaged along lines which extend at an obtuseangle from a plane Y in which the corners 126-128 of the display aredisposed and which angles are designated by the letter b in FIG. 7. Thedisplay 100 is supported by the extending engaged end edges of the tabportions forming the base and sides of the triangular frame asillustrated in FIG. 7 and the display surface 101 is disposed generallyparallel to the plane Y of the corners 126-128 and faces upwardly from ahorizontal supporting surface for the display.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further modification of a display embodying thepresent invention which is similar to the display 10 of FIGS. 1-5 andwherein similar parts are designated by corresponding primed referencecharacters. The display 10' includes a display surface 11, having thesame general polygonal shape as the display bearing surface 11 of FIG. 1except that the bend lines 1417' are defined by straight line segmentsintermediate curvilinear bend lines 151, 152 with the line segments 151,152 of adjacent bend lines 14'-17' intersecting at corners 153. Thecorners 153 are spaced from the corners 20-23, with corresponding onesof the corners 153 and 20'-23' connected by a single bend line 154.

A display 10' constructed as disclosed in FIG. 10 produces asubstantially square planar display surface having a frame-likestructure 12' surrounding the display bearing surface which is definedby four frame forming sheet portions or panels and tab portions. Thebend and fold lines of the display 10 are defined by score lines in thesheet material and the display 10 is assembled in the same manner asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 1-5 to be self supporting an a planarsurface.

While three embodiments of the present invention have been illustratedand described herein in considerable detail the present invention is notto be considered to be limited to the precise constructions shown. Selfsupporting displays embodying the invention could, for example, beconstructed to define polygons having a greater number of sides thanfour and could, be constructed with tab portions along a majority butnot all of the polygonal sides of the display.

It is therefore my intention to cover hereby all adaptations,modifications and uses of the present invention which come within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display comprised of foldable sheet-like material including a firstpolygonal sheet portion having sides defined by fold lines in the sheetmaterial, a second polygonal sheet portion within said first sheetportion defining a display bearing surface and with sides of said secondmentioned polygonal portion being formed by fold lines in said material,said first and second polygonal sheet portions having the same number ofsides and with the bend lines defining sides of said second mentionedpolygonal portion being of greater lineal length than corresponding onesof said fold lines of said first mentioned polygon, said sheet materialbetween corresponding sides of said first and second sheet portions beinbent in the first direction away from said display bearing surface alongsaid bend lines to define frame forming sheet portions which aredisposed about said display bearing surface, said frame forming sheetportions being resilient- 1y bowed intermediate junctures of said foldlines, and tab portions connected to said frame forming sheet portionsalong said fold lines for maintaining said frame forming sheet portionsin said lbowed condition.

2. A display as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab portions are bentbackwardly upon said frame forming sheet portions along said fold lineand are resiliently bowed intermediate their ends.

3. A display as defined in claim 2 wherein three of said tab portionsprovide the sole support for said display.

4. A display as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab portions aremaintained in said resiliently bowed conditions by forces exertedthereon by adjacent tab portions.

5. A display as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab portions aregenerally rectangular in shape having a major side defined by said foldlines and end edges extending transversely from said fold line adjacentcorners of said first mentioned polygonal sheet portion, said end edgesof adjacent ones of said tab portions urged into engagement when saidtab portions are in said resiliently bowed condition and with theengaging force of said end edges effective to maintain said tab portionsin said bowed conditions.

6. A display as defined in claim wherein said engaged end edges of threeof said tab portions extend from said bend line beyond said displaybearing surface and define the sole support for said display.

7. A display as defined in claim 1 wherein the corners of said firstpolygonal sheet portion and the corners of said second sheet portion aredisposed closely adjacent each other and further including a bend lineextending between the corresponding said display surface and said firstmentioned polygonal sheet portion, said bend line between said cornersdefining a juncture of adjacent frame forming sheet portions.

8. A display as defined in claim 1 wherein the corners of said firstsheet portion and corresponding corners of said second sheet portion areat the same location on said sheet and the bend lines defining the sidesof said second sheet portion include arcuately curved line segmentsproviding for said resilient bowing of said frame forming sheetportions.

9. A display device comprised of a sheet of foldable material includinga polygonal display bearing surface and a frame-like structuresurrounding said display bearing surface; said frame-like structureincluding frame forming sheet portions extending from sides of saidpolygonal display bearing surface along bend lines defining sides ofsaid display bearing surface, tab portions disposed along sides of saidframe forming sheet portions and folded back upon said frame formingsheet portions, said tab portions and said frame forming sheet portionsbeing resiliently bowed intermediate ends thereof to define saidframe-like structure, and means for maintaining said tab portions andsaid frame forming sheet portions in said bowed condition.

10. A display as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for retainingsaid tab portions and, said frame forming sheet portions in said bowedconditions includes surface portions of adjacent tab portions engaged inthe vicinity of corners of the frame-like structure.

11. A display as defined in claim 10 wherein said tab portions aregenerally rectangular in shape having a major side defined by the foldline between said frame forming sheet portion and said tab portions andend edges extending generally transversely to said fold line at thecorners of said frame-like structure, end edges of adjacent ones of saidportions being urged into engagement when said frame forming sheetportions and said tab portions are resiliently bowed.

12. A display as defined in claim 10 wherein the bend lines definingsides of said polygonal display bearing surface are of greater linealextent than the lineal extent of said fold lines between said frameforming sheet portions and said tab portions.

13. A blank article of sheet-like foldable material from which a displaydevice may be constructed including a first series of bend linesdefining a polygonal surface, a

second series of bend lines defining a polygon surrounding saidpolygonal surface, said polygon having the same number of sides as saidpolygonal surface, junctures of bend lines defining said polygonalsurface disposed adjacent corresponding junctures of bend lines definingsaid polygon and corresponding sides of said polygon and said polygonalsurface spaced apart, and tab portions extending from each of the sidesof said polygon, said first series of bend lines enabling folding in onedirection and said second series of bend lines enabling folding of saidtabs in an opposite direction.

14. A blank article as defined in claim 13 wherein said tab portions aregenerally rectangular in shape each having a major side defined by oneof said bend lines of said second series of bend lines and with thewidth of said tab portions being greater than the maximum distancebetween said one of said bend lines and a corresponding bend linedefining a side of said first mentioned polygon.

15. A display as defined in claim 13 wherein said first series of bendlines include arcuately curved segments and are of greater lineal extentthan the length of a corresponding one of said second series of bendlines.

16. An article as defined in claim 13 wherein one of said series of bendlines is defined by scoring the material of said sheet along one majorsurface thereof and said other series of bend lines is defined byscoring said sheet on the opposite major surface thereof.

17. An article as defined in claim 16 wherein said score lines definingthe sides of said first mentioned polygon are defined at least in partby arcuately curved segments.

18. A display device comprised of foldable sheet-like material includinga first polygonal sheet portion having sides defined by fold lines inthe sheet material, a second polygonal sheet portion within said firstsheet portion defining a polygonal surface and with sides of said secondpolygonal portion being formed by fold lines in said material, saidfirst and second polygonal sheet portions having the same number ofsides and with the bend lines defining sides of said second polygonalportion being of greater lineal length than corresponding ones of saidfold lines of said first mentioned polygon, said sheet material betweencorresponding sides of said first and second sheet portions being bentin the first direction away from said second polygonal portion alongsaid bend lines, said sheet material between said corresponding sidesbeing resiliently bowed intermediate junctures of said fold lines, andtab portions connected to said polygonal portion along said fold linesand projecting therefrom beyond said second polygonal portion andeffective to maintain said sheet material between said correspondingsides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1956 Polay. 5/ 1965 Scherotto.

US. Cl. X.R. 40126

